Drill pipe protector applicator



Dec. 1, 1942.

A. M. GRAHAMr DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR APPLICATOR 2 sheets-snaai 2 Filed July 20, 1940 I N VEN TOR.

ATTORNEY E: Ii P Patented Dec. l, 1942 DRILL PIPE PROTECTOR APPLICATOR Adelbert M.- GrahamyBeverly Hills, Calif., as-

signor to Walter G. C

alii'.

. Smith, Los Angeles,

Application July 20, 1940, Serial No. 346,615

2 Claims.

My present invention relates to a device for applying expansible annular protectors to drill pipe or other members which are to be operated in a well.

The invention is of especial utility with drill pipe employed in the rotary system of well drilling wherein a string of drill pipe is employed as a means for rotating a drill at the bottom of the well for the purpose of increasing the depth thereof. Such drill pipe consists of lengths of steel pipe secured together by sleeve couplings and by tool joints. on the drill pipe at suitable intervals sleeve members of a rubber compound molded with their internal diameters smaller than the external diameter of the pipe so that the protectors'y mustbe stretched in order to be placed on the drill pipe, the result being that tension acting in the walls of the protectors will cause them to tightly grip the pipe. When applied to the pipe,

the external diameters of these drill pipe protectors is larger than the diameter of the tool jointsand couplings, with the result that during the operation of the drill pipe in the well the tool joints, collars, and couplings will not contact the side Wall of the hole or a casing set in the hole. Accordingly, wear on the drill pipe or its coupling means and wear on the casing in which the drill pipe may be operated is substantially avoided.

It is an object of this invention to `provide means, for expanding an expansible drill pipe protector of krubbery material and placingihe same in expanded condition on a member having a substantially cylindrical exterior surface, after which the protector is transferred from the member to a desired position on a drill pipe.

It is a further object of the invention to pro- It is now a practice to place vide a means for holding a drill pipe protector or wear preventer in expanded condition and whereby the protector may be applied directly to the position on the drill pipe which ity is intended to occupy, thereby avoiding the'riecessity of sliding the wear preventor on the drill pipe. Itis a further object of the invention to providea device, for holding a drill pipe protector in expanded condition and in a position surroundingr?. selected portion of a drill pipe, with means fo transferring the protector directly to the drill pipe. substantially without axial movement of the protector relative to the drill pipe after contraction.

It is an object of the invention to provide in a means such as set forth in the preceding paragraph a hollow wall for supporting a protector in a position surrounding a drill pipe, and subthe expanding means applies the expanded protector may be a cylindrical wall from whichthe protector is transferred to the surfaceof the drill pipe, or it may be the end of the drill pipe, a coupling or collar on the end of the drill pipe, or other `cylindrical member at the end of the drill pipe from which the protector' is placed-in its desired position on the drill pipe.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for expanding a protector whereby the protector to be expanded is forced -over an expanding cone and wherein the force applied to move the protector over the cone comprises a tubular body of expansible material. .In the preferred practice of the invention, the protector to be applied to the holder or to the drill pipe is forced over the expanding cone by means of a second protector disposed at the rear end thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide an expanding means for applying a protector to a member'having a cylindrical outer surface, this expanding means having a guide for guiding a protector as it is being moved over the expanding cone and onto the receiving member.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'a device of the character set 'forth in the preceding paragraplr having means for applying force in axial direction to move the protector over the expanding cone and having a. guide means movable in axial direction from a retracted position toa guiding position relative to the protector as it moves over the expanding cone onto the receiving member.

A further object of the invention Ais to provide a device such as set forth in the preceding paragraph wherein the guide member is automatically moved into operative position prior to the application of force to move the protector over the expanding cone and onto the receiving member or holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character above set forth having means for rendering the guide member inoperative when the device is employed to expand proceives the expanded protector, this holder being removable-to a position surrounding the pipe to which the protector is to be applied, and such holder embodying means for moving the cylindrical wall on' which the expanded protector is supported, from its position within the protector, to permit the protector to contract around a drill pipe.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of thespecication.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view showing a preferred form of my drill pipe protector expanding means with a holder or transferring device in place to receive the expanded protector.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken substantially on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a drill pipe protector forced by a second protector over the expanding cone of the device.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing lthe relative position of the parts when the protector is moved onto the l support.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing a manner in which the protector is transferred from the holder onto the drill pipe.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the expanding device is employed to expand a protector, the wall of which is quite thick relative to the length and, accordingly, may be expanded over the expanded cone ,without it rolling or turning over.

In Fig. 1 of the drawings I show an expanding device A for expanding a protector Ill and placing the same on a member II'having a cylindrical outer surface, such member being shown as part of a holder or transferring device B which is supported above the base I2 of the expanding device A. The expanding device A comprises a cylinder I3 having three projecting lugs I4 whereby it may be supported upon and connected to the base I2 by means of vertical rods I5.

The cylinder has at its lower end a ring I6 which projects inward and carries packing I1 to engage the outer surface of a cylindrical wall I6 forming part of a major piston I9 which has at its upper end a flange 20 carrying packing members 2I and 22 arranged respectively to seal The against downward and upward pressure. major piston I9 has at its upper end a wall or head 23 which confronts theupper end wall or head 24 of the cylinder I3. A pressure chamber 25 is formed in between the heads 23 and 24 in which fluid pressure may operate to move the piston I9 downward. An annular pressure chamber 26 is formed between the cylinder I3 and the wall I8 of the major piston I9 in which fluid pressure will act against the ilange 20 to move the major piston I9 upward in the cylinder I3 or to resist downward movement of the piston I9.

In coaxial relation to the piston I9 a pusher 21 projects downward from the head 23 of the cylinder I3, this pusher comprising a cylindrical member threaded at 28 into the head .23, M111 therein. A cylindrical wall 3I projects downward from the head 23 of the piston I9 in coaxial relation to the pusher 21 and of such larger diameter as to be spaced from the pusher 21. Packing means 32 is disposed in the lower end of the cylindrical wall 3| to engage the outer surface of a tube or cylindrical wall 33 forming part of a guide member 34 having at its lower end an outwardly ared wall 35. At the upper end of the cylindrical wall 33 of the guide member 34 there is an inwardly turned flange 36 carrying packing 31 for sealing engagement with the pusher member 21. The head 23 of the piston I9 has openings 38, through which uid pressure may be transmitted from the chamber to the upper face of the flange 36, to move the guide to a position indicated by dotted lines 34'. A guide bar or tube 39 is threadedinto, the lower end of the pusher 21, and this guide member 39 receives thereon the protector I0 and another protector indicated by the numeral I0' which is to serve as a means for transmitting the pushing force from the enlargement 29 ofthe pusher member 21 to the protector I0, as will be hereinafter described.

The wall II of the transferring device B is relatively thin and at its lower end has an outwardly projecting ange 40 carrying upwardly and downwardly faced packing members 4I and 42. A cylindrical wall 43 projects downward from the ilange 40, this cylindrical wall 43 being preferably a continuation of the wall II. A cylindrical member 44 surrounds the walls II and 43 and the ange 40, this member 44 including an upper cylindrical guard wall 45 having at the lower end thereof an inwardly projecting flange 46 with packing means 41' to engage the outer face of the wall II. The flange 46 lies above the flange 40. The member 44 has a cylindrical wall 46 which. engages the packing means 4I and 42 of the flange 40 and extends downward over the wall 43'. At the lower end of the wall 46' a plate 41 is secured, this plate 41 having an opening through which the lower portion of ring device B has diametrally opposed handles l 49, as shown in Fig. 5, whereby the device B may be manually engaged so as to be moved from its position of Fig. l to a position above a rotary table 50, Fig. 5, so that a portion of a drill pipe 5I may be lowered through the device B.

Within the cylindrical wall 46', forming a part of the outer member 44, a. chamber 52 is formed between the flange 46 and the flange 40, and a chamber 53 is formed between the flange 40 and the inwardly projecting portion of the plate 41 at the lower end of the wall 46. A metal body 54 projects outward from the upper portion of the wall 46' and therein a passage 55 is formed, communicating with kthe chamber 52. On the plate 41 there is a projection 56 having therein a passage 51 which communicates with the lower end of the chamber 53. A four-way valve 56 has the upper port 59 thereof connected to the outer end of the passage 55 of the body 54 by means of a flange fitting 60, and the diametrally opposed lower port 6I of the four-way valve 58 is connected through a pipe 62 with the passage 51. The four-way valve 56, in accordance With. known construction thereof, has. in addition valve 1I and the four-way valve 68.

to the ports 59 yandil, a pair of diametrally opposed inlet and outlet ports. not shown. As shown in Fis. 5. a fluid pressure line 63 and a discharge line 64 are connected to these remaining ports of the four-way valve 58, 'such lines 63 and 64 being preferably flexible conduit or hose. By suitable rotation of the plug 65 of the four-way valve 58, iluid pressure may be intro` duced into the chamber 52 or the chamber 53 while at the same time the dischargehose 64 will be connected either to the chamber 53 or the chamber 52. Accordingly, fluid pressure may be applied to the upper face of the flange 40 to move Athe walls I I and 43 downward relative .to the outer structure 44, or fluid pressure may be applied to the lower face of the flange 4I! to move the walls II and 43 upward relative to the outer structure 44 of the transfer device B. 4

As shownin Fig. 1, pressure and discharge llines 66 and 61 are connected to opposing ports -va1ve 1| is bypassed by a pressure relief valve 13 having its inlet 14 connected to the piping 18 between the check valve 1| and the pressure chamber 26, and having its outlet 15 connected by piping 16 to the piping 10 between the check In the ordinary operation of the device, the relief valve 13 is set so as to hold a pressure of 100 pounds against the interior of the chamber 26.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a ring 11is slidably disposed upon the base I2, this ring 11 having an extendingarm 18 which swings on the lower portion of the leftward vertical bar I5, and the ring 11 is provided with a projecting handle 19,

whereby force may be applied to swing the ring' in clockwise direction from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 2 to a position wherein the ring 1.1 will lie in projecting relation to the edge 80 of the base I2. The ring 11, as shown in Fig. 1, has an annular rib to project upward into the lower end of the wall 43, whereby the transferring device B will be properly positioned relative to the expanding device A when the ring 11 is moved onto the base I2 to the position thereof shown in Fig. 2. The expanding device A includes a conical member 8| which is placed at the upper end of the wall II of the device B. This expanding cone 8| has a downwardlyprojecting annular rib 82 to project into the upper end of the wall II, thereby centralizing the cone 8| with relation to the wall II. The upper end of the cone 8| is provided with an opening 83 through which the bar or tube 39 may downwardly'slide during the operation of the device. Y

The operation of the device is preferably carried Aout in the following manner. With the transferring device B in place below the expanding device A, and with the expanding cone 8| postioned as shown, the four-way valve |58I is manipulated so as to introduce liquid under high pressure through the piping 69into the chamber 25. 'I'he pressure of fluid in the chamber 25 will tend to force the piston |9 downward, but the downward movement of the piston I9 will be resisted by the reaction of liquid trapped in the I' and I0.

1 forced downward relative chamber 26. Accordinsb. when the pressure is rst applied to the chamber 25 it will be transmitted through theopenings 38 and will force the guidemember 34 downward from the position in which it is shown in full lines to its dotted line position 34 surrounding the members As the pressure builds up in the chamber 25, the pressure in the chamber 2 6 will be brought to a value exceeding the pressure for which the relief valve 13 is set and the piston I9. with the pusher 21 and the guide 34, will be to the expanding cone The lower end of the bar 39 will enter the opening 83 and the lower end of the vprotector III will come into engagement with the upper lip 90 of the cone 8|, .with the result that the conewill enter the lower portion of the opening through the protector I0, and at the same time the members I0 and yIIII will be compressed in axial direction so as to expand the same into engagement with the guide member 34. The lower portion of the protector I0 will be advanced part way up the expanding wall of the cone 8| before the flared wall 35 of the guide member 34 approaches relatively close tothe expanding cone 8|. The flared wall 35 of the guide member 34 will then rest against the outer surface of the protector I0 as it is forced downward over the expanding cone 8| and will remain in this position while the pusher member 21 continues to force the-members I0 and Ill downward through the positions thereof shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 3 the pusher member 21 has advanced downward to such position as to bring the lower end of the member I0' into engagement with the upper lip 90 of the cone 8|. At this time the -lower end 93 o f the protector I0 will be passing onto the upper portion of the cylindrical wall II. It will be noted at this time thatthe lower ends of the pusher'21 and the cylindrical wall 3| have moved downward below the upper end .or flange 36 of the vguide member 34. In Fig. 4, further downward'movement of the pusher 21 will force the member I0' downward and outward through the flaring annular space, defined by the cone 8|, and the wall 35, and this movement of the member I0' will force the protector I0 out-from the space between the parts 8|.and 35 onto the external surface of the cylindrical wall II, as

`shown in Fig. 4. At this time the four-wayvalve 68 may be manipulated to release pressure. from the chamber 25 and to apply pressure through the piping 1|) and the check valve 1| to the pressure chamber 26 to return the piston I9 to the raised position thereof shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the pressure is releasedfrom the upper end of the guide member 34, it may move upward a sufficient distance to permit the member I0. to slide upward, in reverse direction from its position of Fig. 4, back to a position around the guide bar 39. l

At the completion of the operation described in the foregoing, the supporting ring 11 may be swung outward so as to carry the transferring device B out of the lower portion of the expanding device A whereupon the expanding cone 8| may be removed from the upper end of the cylindrical wall II, and the device B, by use of the handles 49 on the outer member 44k thereof, may be transferred to the rotary table 50, Fig. 5, after which the drill pipe may be lowered through the cylindrical walls II and 43.. The device B may be then supported stationary in a raised position relative to upper surface of the rotary table 50, for example, by two workmen lifting on prevented and the downward movement of the inner element of the transferring device B will pull the cylindrical wall Il downward out offthe opening ofthe protector Il,permitting the same to contract around the adjacent portion of the drill pipe 5l.

In the use of the expanding device A for protectors of the larger sizes, and for protectors having walls which are quite thick relative to the length thereof, I lock the guide member 3l. and

the member 21 together, as shown in Fig. 6, so that the guide member 34 cannot move downward relative to the thrust member 21. To lock these parts together, as described, I provide a cone plug 95 having a threaded projection 96l whereby it may be screwed into the lower end of the thrust member 21. This plug 95 has a flange or lip 91 to engage the upper inner portion of the flared wall 35 of the guide member 34, thereby preventing downward movement of the guide,

member 34 relative to the thrust member 21. An inner support or guide bar 88, analogous to the member 39 of Fig. l, of required diameter for the size of the protector |00, is secured in a position projecting downward from the plug 95, the support 98 being of such'length as to receive the protector and another protector |00' to be used to force the protector |00 over the expanding cone. In conjunction therewith an expanding cone 8l is employed having yan opening 83 of a size to receive the member $8.

be operated to direct liquid under pressure This expanding cone Il' is supported at the upper end of a wall Il' analogous to the wall Il of Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

A preferred embodiment of my invention i1- lustrated in the drawings is especially adapted to installation of drill pipe protectors on an oil well drill stem, but I do not care to be so limited.

' It Vis to be understood that the structural'elements are subject to change in size, shape, and lmanner of lassembly as falls within the scope under pendant claims.

I claim as my invention: l

1. A device for expanding a resilient drill pipe protector sleeve having an axial opening therein onto a cylindrical member having a diameter materially larger than the normal diameter of said protector sleeve, comprising an expanding cone forming an approach to said cylindrical member, a guide bar, means supporting said guide bar in axial alignment with said expanding cone to support a protector sleeve by passing through the axial opening therein, a pusher member concentric with said guide bar, an annular guide member surrounding said pusher member, means supporting said annular guide member in concentric relation to said guide bar and for movement toward and from said expanding cone, said annular guide member ilaring outwardly at its end adjacent said expanding cone'to approximately parallel the-walls of vsaid expanding cone, and means for forcing the flared end of said annular guide member against the outer surfaceof the protector sleeveand for moving said pusher member toward said expanding cone to force a protector sleeve on said guide-bar over said expanding cone onto said cylindrical member while at the same time pressure lis exerted on said sleeve by said iiared end.

2. A device asdescribed in claim 1 in which the expanding cone is provided vwith an opening at its apex through which said guide bar passes.

ADELBERT M. GRAHAM. 

